Families to get P10K aid from capitol death toll in Barili raises to 3

CEBU, Philippines - The death toll in the Barili vehicular accident has climbed to three after the 11-year old boy expired last Sunday afternoon at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Barili police chief, Insp. Arvi Arbuis, has verified and confirmed the death of John  Michael Selitona, who suffered leg fracture, broken rib and injuries in the head after he was hit by the 10-wheeler truck early Saturday morning in Barangay Sta. Ana, Barili.

Arbuis said that initial investigation disclosed that what happened was purely mechanical error after the truck was checked by the local government unit's chief mechanic, George Quirante, yesterday.

"Problema gyud sa brake kay gisuwayan ug bomba dili na man kuno makapaak ang foot brake," Arbuis told The FREEMAN.

A criminal complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide was filed yesterday before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office against the truck driver, Adones Quiñanola, 37, a resident of Iloilo City.

In an inquest, Quiñanola opted not to file counter-affidavit instead, he manifested to face the charges in court.

State Prosecutor Rustom Presas then recommended the filing of complaint before the court and recommended P30,000 bail for respondent's temporary liberty.

Quiñanola was employed at Jak Logistics owned by Arnel Vera of Reclamation Area, Cebu City.

Joeberth Martillan, 33, a resident of Sta. Ana, Barili, Cebu said the vehicle driven by the respondent was the same vehicle figured a vehicular accident and accidentally bumped his sister, Jennifer, 22, causing the latter's death.

Dulce Reponte, 28, a resident of Sitio Ylaya, Barangay Gunting, Barili said at around 8:00 a.m. on November 30, 2013, she was informed by their neighbor that there was a truck bumped to the computer house of Virgilio Concepcion, the grandfather of her son.

Upon arrival, she said she was told that her son was struck at the bumper portion of the truck.

After the body was pulled out, she said they then went to Barili District Hospital but the attending physician declared her son dead.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Board yesterday has appropriated the amount of P10,000 chargeable against the Office of the Governor as financial assistance each of the families of Selitona, Aderson Jason Vergara and Jennifer Gonzales Martillan.

PB Member Grecilda Sanchez who sponsored the resolution said that the families of the victims need financial aid due to the sudden and untimely deaths of the victims.

Sanchez also expressed her deepest sympathy and condolences to the grieving families who are her constituents in the third district.— Ria Mae Y. Booc, Mylen P. Manto and Gregg M. Rubio (FREEMAN)